World Briefing | Europe: Czech Republic: Trial For Communists

Five senior Communist-era officials went on trial, charged with masterminding a plan to force dissidents to flee the country in the late 1970's. A former interior minister, Jaromir Obzina, and four others are accused of ordering the secret police to use torture, beatings and psychological abuse against signers of the Charter 77 human rights appeal. The trial of two lower-ranking officers on charges of torture was postponed when a defendant did not appear. Peter S. Green (NYT)